La photographie a un prix!

01 September 2006

Fortune's twists

The first thing that popped into my head when I read the Sunday Scribblings prompt "fortune cookie" was this poem. I hadn't intended to write a poem for this week's prompt, but voila! Sometimes one's instincts know best (and I'm two days early!)

If only it were that simple,
one's future told in a fortune cookie
those bakers would be rich,
people lining up to buy their product,
the cookie makers interviewed on talk shows,
coyly refusing to divulge their secret recipe.

They'd be modern-day prophets (or con artists)
dutifully predicting what will happen next,
typing up their messages, happy or sad
and stuffing the world's cookies with signs of opportunity or disaster.
The Chinese believe the two are the same:
flip sides of the same coin - toss it to see where it lands.

No tea leaves, palm readings,
psychics or tarot readers,
numerologists or astrologers
saying it's written in the stars
can tell you what you don't know already,
deep in your subconscious.

The trick is to understand one's assets
and focus on the strengths:
within lies the key to success.
Persistence is required;
no other special skills needed;
no big mysteries to solve.

Su destino, the Spaniards say,
fate's messages too important to arrive in a fortune cookie.
Luck shines through sincere efforts:
seizing the day when opportunity knocks;
shaping one's own destiny;
choosing a life less ordinary.

"The life less ordinary." The first, best choice. What a great poem, and extraordinary painting!

I've been frustrated in my attempts to post my Scribblings this week (moving to blogger beta means not being able to post comments on the regular blogger sites), but it's up there: http://boliyou.blogspot.com/2006/09/sunday-scribblings-fortune-cookie.html

Well, well....the literary one has now penned herself a poem that is the template for the next great self-help novel. I love it. All you need to do is throw a chapter behind each one of these lines and the book is done.

I think poetry is your true calling. Spare truth. I love it. How often a fortune cookie or soothsayer spells out a direction and, so anxious for directives, we purpose to make it come true. It's like it grabs one of the swirling possibilities and solidifies its import - so we turn in that direction and walk forward resolutely.

Yes, persistence is required, but there's always room for serendipity. I think of a quote "the harder I work, the luckier I get". But sadly persistence and hard work can't always protect you from earthquakes, tsunamis or warmongers.
Not so early here, it's Saturday already. I'll be posting mine later today or maybe very early Sunday morning as I'm at a poetry workshop all day Sunday

ooohhh...I like this, self-determination and the choice to creat a life that is beyond the ordinary ... of course, there is still a little room for magical opportunities ... the key is to choose to look for them & act upon them when you find them (or they find you!) lovely, tara.

What an absolutely dreamy painting and perfect poem. I love the part about understanding one's assets and focusing on the strengths. And I think that if we all focus on the strengths of others, as well, we'd all have a life less ordinary. Great post!

I love the painting...always my favorite style..layer upon layer. As for the poem...I think it's perfect. I love the line about persistence and a life less ordinary. People want to forget about the value of hard work some times. Hard work with no payoffs...working in faith. I do think some are blessed with good timing...but luck, I agree wholeheartedly, shines mostly on those prepared to receive it. hey early bird, you sure got (and earned ) this worm!

Yes, yes, yes...persistence is the one that matters most! You got it right, it should be revered like a religion...just keep trying to make your dreams come true, and eventually they will....I love that painting, too beautiful for words.

I wanted to say something like this, but so glad I decided to take a different angle, as you put it so much better than I ever could. I couldn't agree more with the sentiment. We are not at the mercy of what may or may not be written in the stars or in a fortune cookie, we have destiny within our own hands within the limits of the strengths and weakness of who we are. Love this post!

Hello Tara!
This oil painting's marvellous. I like it very much. Your poem is really true. Thanks a lot.
I ve visiting your flat, where do you live in Paris? Its look like uou loved antiques and brocantes. Do you like making "pate à sel" I like it when christmas came, it's colder and smelling bred, hot oven, and creation it's real pleasure.
Have nice WE Tara.
Love
XO